Gaza in Ruins: Tens of Thousands Dead as Israel’s Two-Year Offensive Reaches a Critical Point
In the nearly two years since hostilities erupted, the Gaza Strip lies in ruins, its people in unrelenting despair. According to the latest report by Palestinian health authorities, more than 67,000 Palestinians have died in Israel’s military operations in Gaza — a number that includes thousands still buried under rubble or unaccounted for.
The sheer scale of destruction is horrific. Over 190,000 buildings — homes, schools, hospitals — have been damaged or destroyed across the enclave. Only 14 out of 36 hospitals are still partially functional. Displacement is pervasive. Entire neighborhoods are uninhabitable. Streets are choked with rubble, utilities are nonfunctional, and the constant threat of bombardment forces terrified civilians to live in constant flight.
In late August, an Israeli strike struck Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, killing at least 22 people — including five journalists — and injuring dozens more. The attack appeared to follow a “double tap” pattern: an initial strike, then a second one as rescuers and survivors tried to respond. Israel later said it was targeting a Hamas camera, but investigations (including one by Reuters) suggest that the camera belonged to news crews.
The death toll in Israel is also profound: since ground operations began, around 1,665 Israelis, including some 466 soldiers, have lost their lives in the conflict.
Political leaders on both sides continue to insist their actions are in defense. Israel argues it is targeting militant infrastructure and claims that at least 20,000 of the Palestinian deaths were fighters — though these figures are unverified and hotly contested. Hamas, meanwhile, has shown no sign of relenting.
On October 2, Israeli forces blocked the main road out of Gaza City, issuing what they called a “final opportunity” for civilians to evacuate south before planned intensified operations. But many Palestinians remained — fearing permanent loss of homes, or unsure where to go, or unable to make the perilous journey south.
Amid global outrage, diplomatic pressure is mounting. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have resumed in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, under a U.S. peace proposal. Some analysts see this as a turning point — but others warn that the complexity of issues (hostages, border control, disarmament) makes agreement elusive.
Meanwhile, Israel announced it would halt its campaign in three areas of Gaza City as part of early implementation steps in the U.S. plan — though strikes elsewhere continue. The fragile pause does nothing to ease the suffering of civilians still trapped in bombed-out zones.
International responses have ranged from condemnation to humanitarian urgency. The United Nations has accused Israel of committing acts amounting to genocide — a charge Israel vehemently denies. Countries supplying diplomatic, medical, and logistical aid have increased pressure on both sides.
Beyond statistics and politics, there is human cost. Families search through collapsed buildings for missing loved ones. Hospitals scramble to treat the wounded with dwindling supplies. Nutrition and clean water are catastrophically scarce. Children, whose lives were already frail, now face specters of disease and hunger as the war grinds on.
This war, begun after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, is now the longest involving Israel since 1948. The scars on Gaza’s land are deep; the scars on humanity even deeper.
For continuing coverage and live updates, see Reuters’ dispatches on the Israel-Hamas war.
Source: Reuters
